PSG offer Man City star Pep called ‘exceptional’ in Bernardo Silva transfer swap

Robin Bairner

• 15 Jun 2023 09:13 BST
• 3 min read

PSG are ready to offer Manchester City Marco Verratti in a part-exchange deal to sign Bernardo Silva, according to reports.

The Ligue 1 side are ready for a summer of wholesale change, with Lionel Messi having left the club for Inter Miami, Kylian Mbappe’s future increasingly unclear and Neymar being pushed towards the exit.

Another star name who could be offloaded in Verratti, whose off-field habits have recently drawn criticism. Indeed, FootMercato reports that PSG envisage using him as a makeweight in a transfer deal for Man City star Bernardo Silva, who the Parisians want to bring back to Ligue 1 after he broke out at Monaco.

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According to reports in France, Bernardo would prefer a move to Barcelona, but the financial situation at Camp Nou complicates matters. Barca will have to sell players before buying, and even in that case it could be difficult to afford a player as lavish as the 28-year-old Portugal star.

But a move to PSG will not be straightforward either, with Man City’s owners unwilling to make a gift of a player who was key to their treble success to the Qatari-owned club.

This is why the Parisians are ready to offer Verratti in part-exchange, with City boss Pep Guardiola having previously expressed a deep admiration for the player.

“He's an exceptional, extraordinary player,” Pep said in September 2021 “I'm in love. [...] You can always count on him to build, to know where the space is, to create a new situation.”

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Verratti's PSG future uncertain

Verratti, meanwhile, has found his future increasingly called into question during 2023, during which his form and off-field behaviour has come under question.

In the past, PSG fought hard to keep the Italy international when pressed by Barcelona, who were ready to pay up to €100 million to sign him in 2017. He is considered a player to have the DNA of a Barca player of the Guardiola era, which is why he was previously so admired at Camp Nou and why Pep retains an affection for him now.

It remains to be seen if this is an offer that Man City accept, but there is no doubt that PSG are pushing hard to sign Bernardo Silva.